Shoe heel



Jan. 11, 1.938. Q DELLEA 2,104,924

- SHOE HEEL Filed sept. 14. 1936l INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 11, 1938 SHOE HEEL Gayton Dellea, Detroit, Mic

Application September 14, 1935, Serial No. 100,619

3 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe heels and the object of the invention is to provide a spring supported cushion heel attached to the shoe and having a screw for adjusting the cushion heel in position and compressing the spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe heel comprising a recessed member attached to the heel seat of the shoe and having a rubber heel member movable vertically within said recessed member, a spring being positioned between the rubber heel and the recessed mernbel` and arranged to allow the spring to compress as the rubber heel is walked on.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe heel comprising a rubber heel member having a metal plate embedded therein and provided with a screw extending through said plate and a spring held under compression by the screw so that the rubber heel member is supported on said spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe heel comprising a recessed member having a central boss and a helical coiled spring having a small end fitting about said boss and a large end engaging a rubber heel member to urge the same outwardly and a screw extending through said rubber heel member and threaded into the recessed member to limit the outward movement of the rubber heel by the spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recessed member having a wide groove in the forward edge and a rubber heel member having a metal plate embedded therein and provided with an extending tongue riding in said groove, the said groove in combination with the adjusting screw, limiting outward movement of the rubber heel.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawing in Which- Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a shoe heel embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l with the rubber heel member removed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rubber heel member showing the extending tongue of the embedded metal plate.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown a shoe I having a sole 2. A recessed member 3 is provided which is attached to the sole Z by the nails 4 shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 and this member 3 as will be understood from Figs, 2 and 3 is provided with a recess 5 into which the rubber heel S may fit. This rubber heel 6 is shown more particularly in Fig. 4 and a metal plate 'l shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is embedded in the rubber heel 5. 5 This metal plate 'l is provided with a series of apertures 8 through which the rubber of the rubber heel extends when the plate is embedded therein. This metal plate l is provided with an aperture 9 at the center as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 4 and a screw IEB is tted through this central aperture 9 and threaded into the recessed member 3 which is provided with a boss ii about the screw. This boss li is circular in form as shown in Fig. 3 and is provided with a central threaded aperture i2 therethrough for the screw lil.

The heel, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, is povided with an extending tongue lli which is the forward edge of the embedded metal plate 'i and this tongue It extends into a wide groove I5 provided therefor in the forward wall of the member 3 as will be understood from Figs. i, 2 and 3. The rubber heel 6 is supported on a helical coiled spring i5 which is arranged so that upon complete compression it is hat and the central coil of this spring is fitted about the circular boss I I in the bottom of the recessed member 3. The outer coil or greater diameter of the spring engages against the underside of the rubber heel member 6 and this spring tends to force the rubber heel member outwardly thus holding the embedded plate 'I in rm engagement with the underside of the screw head ill. Upon walking on I the rubber heel, as will be understood from Fig. 5 2, the rubber heel is pushed toward the bottom of the recessed member 3 thus compressing the spring I t and moving the embedded plate 'I away from the head of the screw i8. At the same time, the tongue It may ride up or down in the wide groove I5. By adjustment of the screw I 0 the pressure on the spring I6 may be varied to accommodate the heel for use with persons of greater or less weight within certain limits and 4' heavier or lighter springs I6 may be used for persons of extremely heavy or light weight so that the adjustment of the screw I will produce the proper resilient action desired by the wearer.

In assembling the device, the spring I6 is first positioned about the boss Il, at which time, the heel is inserted at an angle so that the tongue I4 is engaged into the groove I5, at which time, the screw I il may be inserted through the central aperture in the plate 1 and threaded into the aperture I2 in the recessed member 3 to the desired adjustment.

l Ywill bring the outer edge of the heel into the recess with`the tongue l acting as a iulcrum against the bottom of the groove I5. This action leaves the rear edge i8 of the heel free to act against the spring it so that maximum cushioning effect is obtained on this edge which is the initial part of the shoe to contact the pave-v ment. While the heelr may rock on the screw l@ as it is being walked upon, it is to be noted that the tongue I4 prevents the forward edge of the heel from being pushed out of the recess 5 when the rear edge i8 of theheel is stepped upon. Also due to the fact that the heel may rock on the spring, the heel is free to adapt itself to any typeV of walking without wearing crooked or uncvenly. It is to be noted Athat Vthe spring takes the wear away from the rubber heelv in that the spring cushions the heel and absorbs a large portion of the wear and shock to the heel. V

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the device is very simple and eiicient in operation, will not easily get out of order, may be used with springs of different strength and provides an adjustment to give the desired flexibility for the individual wearer.

Having thus fully described my inventionits utility and Inode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is Y Y 1. In a shoe heel, a recessed member adapted for attachment to a shoe, a rubber heel movable vertically in the recessed member, a metal plate embedded in the rubber heel and having an extending tongue, one wall of the recessed member beingV grooved to receive said tongue and the groove being of sufficient width as to allow vertical movement of the rubber heel and tongue in the recessed member, a circular boss in the bottom of the recessed member having a threaded aperture therein, a helical coiled spring fitting about the said boss at the small end and engaging the rubber heel at the large end, the rubber heel being provided with a recess at one side of the metal plate and a screw extending through the metal plate and threaded into the threaded aperture in the boss, the recess in the rubber heel being arranged to receive the head of the screw and preventing the screw head from engaging the pavement.

2. In a shoe heel, a recessed member adapted for attachment to a shoe, a rubber heel movable vertically in the recessed member, a metal plate embedded in the rubber heel and having an extending tongue, the recessed member having a straight wall spaced from the rear edge of the Shoe and the wall being grooved to receive said tongue, a circular boss in the bottom of the recessed member having a threaded aperture therein, a helicalcoiled spring tting about the said boss at the small end andengaging the rubber heel at the large end, a screw extending through the metal plate and threaded into the threaded aperture of the boss and being arranged to place the spring under compression, the arrangement being such that the tongue engaging in the groove embedded inthe rubber heel and having an ex- Y tending tongue, one wall of the recessed member being grooved to receive said tongue, a helical coiled spring between'the rubber heel and the bottom of the recessed member and a screw extending through the plate in the rubber heel Vand threaded in the recessed member, the arrangement being such that turning up the screw i will move the rubber heel into the recessed memn ber and place the spring under compression.

GAYTON DEL-LEA. 

